The Dare to Dream Podcast

It is with heavy hearts that we bring you the last episode of The Dare to Dream Podcast, possibly ever. We started this podcast over 5 years ago and after 238 episodes, we are ready to close this chapter. This episode is a final reflection and celebration of the journey we embarked on and who we become along the way. Thank you so much for listening, supporting, and encouraging us over the last 5 y...

Melissa Aarskaug is the founder of Executive Connect, a purpose-driven platform that unites high-level leaders to explore transformation, reinvention, and the future of modern leadership. With a background in civil engineering and an 18-year career spanning highly regulated and fast-moving industries, Melissa brings a rare blend of strategic rigor and emotional intelligence to every endeavor. She...

Alana Ruoso is a Career & Success Coach for those who deep down know that they can do better but keep falling short of where they want to go. With humor & honesty, Alana shows them how to ditch the struggle, own their value and move their career (and life) from vanilla success to spectacular triumph. In this episode, expect to learn: Why Alana was addicted to struggling How struggle is oft...

Paige Wilhide is a trained improvisor, award-winning playwright and performer, and Play Facilitator for organizations looking to build trust and encourage bold creativity, all while having more fun than anyone should have at work. Trusted by clients like Morgan Stanley, Wix, and Columbia University, Paige’s signature improv-inspired trainings give teams a permission slip to play, leaving them insp...

This is an episode swap from the amazing Rejection Rehab podcast. Fortune favors the bold. Gregory Benedikt left private equity, delivered a TEDx talk, and—thanks to 10 seconds of terrifying action—met the love of his life by sliding his number across a café receipt… in front of two people. In this episode, EMMY winner Dr. Tom unpacks Gregory’s Bold Action formula and his 100-Day Rejection Challen...

My TEDx talk just crossed 300,000 views! That's wild, and to celebrate, here is me reading my favorite hate comments. Enjoy!

Shane Pope is the founder of Reflect Technology, a company dedicated to transforming mental wellness. After a long, intense journey through trauma and healing, he emerged with a deep curiosity and drive to help others. Shane specializes in deconstructing complex ideas, translating them into accessible insights, and building bridges that make mental wellness tools approachable for everyone. He beli...

I’m tired of racing. Of feeling like there’s somewhere I need to go in life, and that I won’t get there unless I fix, do, solve, more, more. I’m tired of it. Tired of trying to achieve. Believing that’s what’ll make me happy, secure, free. I’m tired of this game. I wanna live life the way I want to live. And be free now. For more Dare to Dream content find us on: Apple Podcasts: ⁠ ⁠https://podcast...

Eric Bowen is a husband, dad, entrepreneur, and recovering corporate executive who spent two decades leading in the corporate world before deciding to challenge himself and build something of his own. Now the co-founder of Bermuda Club, he’s focused on creating spaces where connection, wellness, and business collide—without the country club pretension or big-box gym vibe. Beyond the club, Eric inv...

This week’s guest is Matt Lillywhite, a writer and digital nomad whose vulnerable stories on Medium have made him one of the most influential writers on the platform. I was drawn to his work because of his honesty regarding the realities of being a digital nomad, a lifestyle many believe we want, yet don’t truly understand the ramifications of.  In this conversation, we discuss how Matt went from...

When Dani Alger was 13 years old, her dad died of a heart attack. He was only 41 years old. This catapulted her into a lifelong journey to become the healthiest version of herself while helping others do the same. Dani calls herself a Foundational Health Consultant and is the creator of the DIGmethod, a science-backed system designed to help people align with their biology and unlock their full po...

From her college radio station to NPR, and now the travel media brand Afar, Cat Sposato has let her curiosity and intuition guide her to both foreign shores and renowned newsrooms.  With her finger on the pulse of travel trends and cultural insights, Cat fosters a keen understanding of the media world and where it’s heading.  She’s written for a variety of prestigious media outlets and has paved h...

I spent 2 days living at a Buddhist Monastery. Here are 3 things I learned: 1. How wonderful silence is At the monastery, we practiced "Noble Silence." This is a period of complete silence that starts after dinner and lasts until after breakfast the next day. Being silent at night helped me fall asleep faster. And not having to make small talk at breakfast That was a blessing I never rea...

Born in Egypt, Bishoy Tadros was diagnosed with cancer at age three. His family moved to the U.S. and for the next 10 years he battled acute lymphoblastic leukemia, culminating with a life-saving brain surgery on his 13th birthday. After a decade of medical challenges, he was finally granted a clean bill of health—an experience that shaped his relentless drive and perspective on life. Denied the c...

Everything has happened for a reason, and that reason is to bring you to this moment. With what you’ve experienced and what you know, what will you decide to change? How do you want your future to look? Who do you want to become? You are exactly where you’re meant to be. Do you believe that? If you want to change, it’s up to you to create it. So take what you’ve been given, start where you are, an...

Our great friend Santana is a man who embodies the entrepreneurial spirit. Daring. Adventurous. A lifelong student. Passionate. Big-hearted. He's creating something very special in the world, putting himself and his communications coaching business on the line again and again in his everlasting pursuit of excellence. Because anything less just won't do. What's great about talking to Sa...

Matt Mosich is an Executive Communication & Speaker Coach, fancy speak for “he helps CEOs, founders, and keynote speakers speak good.” He never imagined he’d end up here, doing work that defies everything he once believed he was capable of. As a recovering perfectionist and amateur philosopher, he channels that hard-won self-awareness into every client session and conversation. In this episode...

Are we supposed to have our lives together by thirty? It can certainly feel that way—especially when we’re comparing ourselves to friends, coworkers, and, of course, people on Instagram. Our thirties carry a certain weight. They mark the shift between the freewheeling twenties and the decade where we're supposed to start families, plant roots, and finally figure it all out. But maybe that’s al...

In March of 2023, Gregory took bold action and gave his number to a cute girl he met at a cafe. Two years later, his TEDx talk chronicling this experience has over 60K views and the internet wants to know more about this mysterious wonder woman. My guest today is Mikah Leggo. Mikah is a paralegal, a lover of philosophy, yoga, and sour candy, and for the past 2.5 years she's been putting up with Gr...

In this conversation, we delve into the spiritual teachings of Michael Singer, whose books The Untethered Soul and The Surrender Experiment have greatly enhanced both of our lives.  Yet it’s his cheerfully free lectures on Youtube that we come back to daily. His lessons focus on enjoying the journey of life rather than fixating on outcomes; fostering a profound sense of gratitude for life on earth...

Emily Gibbens is former D1 tennis player turned Holistic Performance Coach. On this episode, she shares the untold story behind her athletic journey from the moment things fell apart to how that breakdown sparked a powerful transformation. We dive into embodiment, identity shifts, and why bold, aligned choices paired with deep self-trust are the ultimate competitive edge. Now based in Bali, Emily...

Spiritual practices that are changing my life, and my first day in a new town. For more Dare to Dream content find us on: Apple Podcasts: ⁠ ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-dare-to-dream-podcast/id1522983890⁠⁠ Spotify: ⁠ ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/599zlweDDcmXP5YhOX6TFw⁠⁠ YouTube: ⁠ ⁠⁠ ⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoimyPFCjO_qrJhH4ALafcA⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠ ⁠⁠ ⁠https://www.instagram....

Sodie Orr is an incredibly talented musician who left college to pursue a career in music. His journey has been one of highs, lows, success, failures, and lessons ever since. In addition to his songwriting, Sodie plays in a family band with his stepdad, Wayne Johnson, dubbed The Swingin Johnsons. They play all over North County, San Diego, and over the 10+ years of performing, have found that some...

Are we here to achieve things in our lives, or are we here to simply enjoy our lives?  Push ourselves to meet our goals, or chill more and just let life happen?  And when we push too hard, striving to reach our dreams or get the job or get in perfect shape, how do we navigate that inevitable stage of burnout?  These are the questions that keep Gregory and Vincent up at night.  Luckily, they got to...

Quentin Williams (aka Q) is a mental performance coach & facilitator for men & athletes. His mission is helping high performers build confidence & embody healthy masculinity by training in the often misunderstood science of Emotional Intelligence. Q has trained over 1,000 business leaders and pro, olympic, & collegiate athletes, helping them clarify & activate their unique purp...